Steam trap



Jan; 11, 1928.

E. A. RUSSELL ET AL STEAM TRAP Filed Sept. 5. 1925 rnifems. I a Z 0 2M721! 4 13 115301] Pau/ Parks" Patented Jan. 17,1928,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. RUSSELL, OF CHICAGO, AND PAUL B. PARKS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, AS- SIGNORS T VAPOR GAR HEATING COMPANY, INC., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

' strum TRAP.

Application filed September 5, 1925. Serial No. 54,800.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements 1n steam traps, and more particularly to a trapv designed for use 1n a steam heating system to permit the auto- 6 matic drainage from the system of water of condensation, while normally preventing the escape of steam through the discharge outlet. The principal object of this invention is to provide a steam trap involving the use of one or more bi-metalllc disks or diaphragms,

which will be warped when sub'ected torelatively high temperatures to old a valve plate a ainst its seat. When cooledby Water of condensation, the diskwill warp in the opposite direction, opening the valve and allowing the water of condensation to drain out. I

Another object of the invention is-to provide means for varying, within certain limits, the. temperatures at which the valveoperating mechanism will function to open and close the valve. This adjusting means comprises means for limiting/the flexure or' warping of the disk in both directions, one adjustment being accomplished by bodily moving the disk toward or from the valve seat, (or the valve seat toward or from the disk), and the other adjustment being made a by a movable stop engaging the opposite face of the disk from the valve seat.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the followin detailed description of certain approve forms of the apparatus involving the principles of this invention. y

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section through a preferred form of steam trap.

Fig. .2 is a transverse vertical section, taker:i substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 an Fig. 3 is a vertical section, similar to Fig. 1, through a modified form of trap.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the end of a steam pipe in open communication with some steam-utilizing system, for example the steam heating system of a railway car. The end of pipe 1 will be at such a level that water of condensation in the system will tend to drain out through this pipe. The casing 2 of the trap has a tubular side extension 3 adapted to be connected in any suitable manner with the end of steam pipe 1, as here shown the pipe 1 is screwed into the extension 3 in a welbknown manner. At the bottom of casng 2 is a second tubular portion 4 in which is mounted a water discharge ipe 5. One

. side of easing 2.is in the form of a removable cover plate 6, which may be securedto the main ortion of casing 2 by screws 7.

Wit in the casing 2 is mounted a looped bracket member 8 com rising two opposite, preferably coaxial tubu ar portions 9 and 10. The tubular portion 9, isscrewed intozan inner wall 11 of easing 2, thus supporting the bracket 8'within the casing, and also forming the inlet passage for steam and water of condensation from pipe l to casing 2. At the inner end of this passage the bracket is formedwith an integral valve seat'12. The supporting block 13 is screwed into the other tubular portion 10, so that it may be adjusted toward or from the valve seat 12, and is secured in adjusted position by the lock nut 14. A pair of similar bi-metallic disks or diaphragms is shown at 15 and 16, each disk being war ed or bowed to a concavoconvex form w en cold, and adapted to be war ed so as to be bowed in the opposite direction when heated to a relatively hi h temperature, as by a bath of steam. T e disks or diaphragms 15 and '16 are'mounted, with their convex sidestoward one another, in an annular cage or retaining ring 17, which is crimped at its edges 18 about the peripheral edges of the respective disks. A central aperture in disk 16 is fitted about a stud 19 on supporting member 13, and held in place by a retaining washer 20. A valve 9 plate 21 adapted to cooperate with valve seat 12 to close the inlet passage, has a. stud 22 mounted in a central aperture in the other disk or die hragm 15, the valve plate being held in p ace by a retainin washer 23. An adjusting screw 24 provided with a lock nut 25 is mounted centrally in the supporting block 13, and bears at its inner end 26 against the inner face of valve plate 21.

When the parts are first assembled, and there is no steam in the system, the apparatus will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Vhen steam is turned on in the system, it will fiow through inlet passage 9 to the casing 2 and will raise the temperature of disks 15 and 16 until they warp, so as to be bowed in the opposite directions, thus carrylot ' seat 12 and s utting ofi the fiow of steam through pipe 1. As long as this steam temperature persists, the valve will be held closed. When water of condensation accumulates adjacent the'valve, it will cool off ,the valve operating mechanism, and the disks 15 and 16 will warp in the other directions to the position shown in Fig. 1, thus opening the valve and permitting water of condensation to drain into easing 2 and then flow out through outlet pipe 5. The steam which flows into the casing 2 will again heat the disks or diaphragms 15 and 16 and again close the valve.

By decreasing the initial flexure of the disks, that is, the distance they are bowed or war ed in one direction, they will warp more quic ly in the opposite direction when subjected to a suitable temperature change. By screwing in the adjusting screw 24, the initial warping of the disks 15 and 16, when cold, may be decreased, that is, they will be moved more nearly into the planes of their peripheral portions. They will then snap past tion in response to a smaller temperature change, that is, the valve will be closed more quickly since the disks need not be subjected so long to a steam temperature. On the other hand, by moving the supporting block 13 toward the valve seat 12, the disk assembly is adjusted bodily toward the valve seat,

' and the disks will not be permitted to warp as far in the opposite direction whenheated, their movements in this direction being limited by contact of the valve plate 21 with valve seat 12. They will then warp back more quickly in response to a decrease in temeprature, that is, the valve will open more quickly to permit accumulated water of condensation to escape. It will be noted that either of these adjustments may be made independently, that is, the upper or lower operating temperatures may be varied without disturbing the other limiting temperature. It will be noted that the purpose of the two diaphragms 15 and 16 is to double the movement imparted to valve plate 21, that is, the valve plate moves in either direction a distance equal to the sum of the warping movement of the twodisks.

A somewhat simpler form of the invention involving the use of only one disk or diaphragm, is shown in Fig.3. In this form, the trap casing 27 is connected with the steam pipe 1, and with the discharge pipe 5, in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. In this form. the cover plate 28 is rovided with a cylindrical flange 29 screw into the open end of the casing. The bi-metallic disk 30, similar to the disks 15 and 16 previously described, has

its peripheral edge portion 31 confined against a shoulder 32 in casing 27, being held in place by a locking disk 33, screwed into an internally threaded portion 34 of casing 27. The valve plate 35 is centrally mounted in diaphraglm 30, being held in place by retaining was er 36. Adjusting screw 37, provi ed with lock nut 38 is centrally mounted in an enlarged portion 39 of the disk or nut 33, and functions in the same manner as the screw 24 previously described, for adjusting the flexure or warping of disk 30 away from the valve seat, when cold. In this form of theinvention, the bi-metallic diaphragm is not bodily adjustable toward or from the valve seat, but the same result is accomplished by making valve seat 40 in the form of an adjustable plug or ring screwed into the steam inlet passage of the casing, so that the seat may be adjusted toward or from the valve plate 35. The operation of this form of the invention is substantially the same as that already described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the Water of condensation, when the valve is open, draining out through passage 41 in casing 27 into the discharge pipe 5. these planes and warp in the opposite direc- It will be apparent that the valve seat 12 in the first described modification might be made adjustable in the same manner as valve seat 10 in Fig. 3, in which case the supporting block 13 would be fixed in bracket 8, or formed as an integral part thereof. Conversely, valve seat 40 in Fig. 3 might be fixed like valve seat 12 in Fi 1, and the operating diaphragm 30 might be carried by disk or nut 33 and thereby adjusted bodily toward or from the valve seat. Such variations in design are clearly within the scope of this invention,

The term bi-metallic disk as here used, is intended to cover any form of diaphragm formed of materials having different. coeflicients of expansion, where y the disk will warp in response to temperature changes. The concavo-convex form of the disc gives the quick or snap action referred to by which the valve is immediately seated as soon as the disc straightens out and snaps past center.

These forms of steam traps are simple and compact and easily assembled, and by means of the two distinct temperature adjustments the opening and closing of the valve may be varied to suit conditions, so that the discharge of water of condensation may be accomplished quickly and efiectivel'y with a minimum waste of steam. Since the thermally operated mechanism for moving the valve does not involve the use of any expansible fluid, and the entire operating mechanism is mounted on the discharge side of the .valve, there is no necessity for all of the tion were first disclosed in the pending application of Russell, Serial No. 7,917, filed l ehruary 9, 1925, of which this present application is a continuation in part.

l/V claim:

1. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding said inlet port, a bi-metallic concave-convex disk positioned transversely in the casing and adapted to be warped with a snap action by temperature changes, a valve mounted on the disk and adapted to engage said valve seat when the disk is subjected to relatively high temperatures and an adjusting screw bearing on the side of the disk opposite to the valve to vary its initial fiexure when relatively cold.

2. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding said inlet port, a bi-metallic concavo convex. disk positioned transversely in the casing and adapted to be warped with a snap action by temperature changes, a

'valve mounted on the disk and adapted to engage said valve seat when the disk is subjected to relatively hi h temperatures, and means for bodily ad usting said disk toward or from the valve seat.

3. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding said inlet port, a bi-metallic concavo-convex disk anchored at its outer edge and adapted to be warped with a snap action by temperature changes, a valve mounted on the disk and adapted to engage the valve seat when the disk is subjected to relatively high temperatures, and means whereby the distance between the valve seat and the valve, with the valve unseatod, may be varied.

4. A steam trap comprising a casing havmg inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding said inlet port, a bi-metallie concavo-convex diskanchored at its outer edge and adapted to be warped by temperature chan es, and'a valve mounted on the disk and adapted to engage the valve seat when the disk is subjected'to relatively high temperatures, and means for limiting the flexure of the disk when warped to either side of the plane of its anchorage.

5. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding said inlet port, a bi-metallic concave-convex disk positioned transversely in the casing and adapted to be warped by temperature changes, a valve mounted on the disk and adapted to engage said alve seat when the disk is subjected to relatively high temperatures, and means for adjusting the initial flexure of the disk when cold and warped away from the valve seat.

6. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding said inlet port, a iii-metallie disk concavo convex when cold positioned transversely in the casing and adapted to be warped by temperature changes, to a shape reversing the concavity and convexity of the disk, a valve mounted on thedisk and adapted to engage said valve seat when the disk is subjected to relatively high temperatures, and means for adjusting the amplitude of flexure ot' the disk when heated and warped to move the valve against its seat.

7. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding said inlet port, a bi-metallie concave-convex disk positioned transversely in the casing and adapted to be warped by temperature changes, a valve mounted on the disk and adapted to engage said valve seat when the disk is subjected to relatively high temperatures, means for limiting the am litude of fiexnre of the disk away from he valve seat when cold, and other means for limiting the flexure of the disk to valve closing position. 8, A steam trap comprising a casing 'havseat surrounding the inlet'port, a movable valve to cooperate with the valve seat to close the inlet port, and means to move the valve to or from its seat comprising a pair of similar iii-metallic concavo-convex disks adapted to be warped by temperature changes, an annular member connecting the peripheries of the two disks in spaced relation. with their convex sides toward one another, the valve being mounted at the center of one of the disks, and a fixed support within the casing for the central portion of the other disk.

9. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding the inlet port, a movable valve to cooperate with the valve seat to close the inlet port, and means to move the valve to or from its seat comprising a pair of similar bi-metallic concavo-convex disks adapted to be warped by temperature changes, an annular member connecting the peripheries of the two disks in spaced relation, with their convex sides toward one another, the valve beingmounted at the center of one of the disks, and a support for the central portion of the other disk adjustably mounted within the casing whereby the valve moving assembly may be bodily adjusted toward or from the valve seat.

10. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding the inlet port, a, movable valve to cooperate with the valve seat to close the inlet port, and means to move the valve to or from its seat comprising a air of similar bi-metallic concave-convex isks adapted to be warped by temperature changes, an annular member connecting the the i peripheries of the two disks in spaced relation, with their convex sides toward one another, the valve being mounted at the center of one of the disks, a fixed support within the casing for the central portion of the other disk, and an adjusting screw 7 ing inlet and discharge ports and a valve seat surrounding the inlet port, a movable valve to cooperate with the valve seat to close the inlet port, and means to move the valve to or from its seat comprising a pair of similar bi-metallic concave-convex disks adapted to be warped by temperature changes, an annular member connecting the peripheries of the two disks in spaced relation, with their convex sides toward one another, the valve being mounted at the center of one of the disks, a support within the casing for the central portion of the other disk, and means for limiting the flexure of the disks toward or from one another in response to temperature changes.

12. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge ports and a valve,

seat surrounding the inlet port, a movable valve to cooperate with the valve seat to close the inlet port, and means to move the valve to or from its seat comprising a pair of similar bi-metallic eoncavo-convex disks adapted to be warped by temperature changes, an annular member connecting the peripheries of the two disks in spaced relation, with their convex sides toward one another, the valve being mounted at the center of one of the disks, a support within the casing for the central portion of the other disk, means for limiting the flexure of the two disks toward one another when cold to convex disks adapted to be warped by tem-.

perature changes, an annular member connecting the peripheries of the two disks in spaced relation with their convex sides toward one another, one of the disks being centrally mounted on the supporting block, and a valve mounted centrally on the other disk and adapted to be moved against the valve seat when the disks are warped when heated.

14:. A steam trap comprising a casing having inlet and discharge passages, a bracket having two spaced coaxial tubular portions, one being mounted within the inlet passage to support the bracket and having a valve seat at its inner end, a supporting block adjustablv mounted in the other tubular portion, a pair of similar bi-metallic concaveconvex disks adapted to be warped by temperature changes, an annular member connecting the peripheries of the two disks in spaced relation with their convex sides toward one another, one of the disks being centrally mounted on the supporting block, a valve mounted centrally on the other disk and adapted to be moved against the valve seat when the disks are warped when heated, and an adjusting screw mounted in the supporting block and bearing against the inner face of the valve carrying disk.

EDVVARDA. RUSSELL. PAUL B. PARKS. 

